23 | Friday, April 19, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER

� MEMBERSHIPS Jon Kuiperij �� NOW Sports Editor “Connected to your Community” [email protected] � � � � � � � AVAILABLE! ������ ������� Sports 2220 Speers Road, Oakville www.AdvanceHockeyAcademy.com Unconventional road led Kellan Lain to NHL deal T.A. Blakelock high school team helped forward enjoy hockey again | www.insideHALTON.com

by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor

Seven years ago, not many could have predicted a potential career in Kellan Lain’s future. Not even Kellan Lain himself. Having been cut by midget AAA teams in Mississauga, Oakville and Halton, Lain had had his fill of rep hockey and chose instead to suit up for his T.A. Blakelock Tigers high school team. More than developing his skills or being exposed to scouts, Lain simply wanted to enjoy the game again. “I hadn’t really been enjoying hockey for the previous four or five years. It wasn’t something I really wanted to do any- more,” recalls the 23-year-old Lain. “I decided to play high school hockey and have some fun with my buddies. Then my plan was to play junior B and go to university in Canada.” Playing high school hockey in Halton, one of the few re- gions in Ontario that do not allow rep players, isn’t exactly the best way to get noticed. But, ironically, it might have been the best hockey decision Lain ever made. Blakelock coach Ken Butler had assembled a strong team when Lain attended the school. Lain wasn’t even the Tigers’ star, according to the coach. “He was one of my top six forwards,” says Butler, whose team also featured future Ontario Hockey Leaguer Mitch Fillman. “I wouldn’t even say he was my No. 1 centreman.” But under Butler, who demanded defensive responsibility Kellan Lain, pictured in action with the ’s , had practically given up on a professional hockey career when he joined but encouraged creativity in the offensive zone, Lain redis- the T.A. Blakelock high school team seven years ago. Lain recently signed a contract with the .| Ross Dettman — Chicago Wolves covered his love for the game. The Tigers reached the Halton final in both years Lain played on the team. get here.” of guy,” Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gil- “When you enjoy playing the game, it makes a huge dif- When Lain talks about what he’s had to overcome, he’s man told the Vancouver Province. “He can be a shutdown ference. You are comfortable and you are confident. Those talking about more than being cut by several teams or seek- centre.” are big things to be successful in hockey,” Lain says. “(The ing a way to enjoy the sport again. That’s the type of backhanded compliment Lain has re- first season playing for Blakelock) was a big year forme. As dim as Lain’s hockey future might have appeared in ceived for the past several years. Some might not be flattered Even though it was just high school hockey, it was probably 2007, the outlook was even darker two years later. Lain by it, but Lain takes it in stride. He also says it doesn’t both- the year that changed everything for me.” sliced the ulnar artery of his left wrist on an opponent’s skate er him that he has yet to record a point in 10 games with Lack of size, something Butler feels was the main reason while playing for the Blades, a scary injury that threatened Vancouver’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Lain had been cut by those midget coaches, was no longer to end his playing career. Wolves. an issue either. By the time Lain graduated from Blakelock, It took nearly a year for Lain to recover. He underwent “As you move up in pro hockey, everyone plays their own he was well over six feet tall. two surgeries and put in countless hours of extensive reha- role. Every team has scorers and top skill guys, and “He probably grew a foot in high school,” Butler says. bilitation with hand specialists at Oakville Trafalgar Memo- every team has role players as well. It’s just being a piece of rial Hospital before returning to the Blades’ lineup in time the puzzle,” Lain says. Played three seasons with for the 2010 postseason. “When you get this far, you’re playing with some of the The Oakville Blades took notice of Lain’s strong play with “It was hard work, but it was something that made me best players in the world. Being able to be good at a few the Tigers, and Lain joined the local junior A team in the fall stronger and made me appreciate everything in life more,” things that a team needs is important. I’m fine with that… of 2007. Lain went on to play three seasons for the Blades, Lain says. A third-line centre role is what I see myself as well. I don’t helping Oakville reach two national championship tourna- Perhaps it is that perspective gained that makes Lain con- disagree with anything anybody says.” ments during that span and parlaying that exposure into a tent with the role hockey executives and scouts project him Words spoken by someone who sounds as though he’s scholarship from Lake Superior State University. to fill as a pro. just happy to be there. And also someone who is grateful he Last month, Lain moved one step closer to the NHL dream Though he averaged nearly a point a game during his fi- played high school hockey at Blakelock. he had once given up on, inking a free agent deal with the nal two seasons with the Blades, the best-case scenario for “I’m sure the coaching he gets now is better than I (pro- Vancouver Canucks. the 6-foot-6, 220-pound centre appears to be as a defensive vided),” Butler says. “I think it’s sunk in now,” Lain says. “For the first little specialist. “But I’m sure he got something here.” while, it was surreal because it’s something I’ve wanted so “We see him as a bottom-end centre, more like Paul badly and worked so hard for and had to overcome a lot to Gaustad or maybe a David Steckel type player. That kind — Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports